Device for feeding the storage -tanks of



SEUTHE 3,124,174

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fla] DEVICE FOR F'EEDING THE STORAGE TANKS OF 1961 STEAM GENERATORS IN TOY LOCOMOTIVES March 10, 1964 Filed March 1,

March 10, 1964 E. sEUTHE 3,124,174 DEVICE EOE FEEDING TEE STORAGE TANKS 0E STEAM GENERAToEs 1N Toy LocoMoTIvEs Filed Mar-Ch l, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3 124 l 4 nevica non saporiti; "rire sronaon ranks on Silit-,M GENERAEGRS EN Titi LQMHVES Eberhard Sentire, Deizisau, Germany (wringen, Wurttemherg, Schnau Filed Mar. 1, 1951, Ser. No. 99,333 Claims priority, application igermany Sept. l5, 1960 3 Slairas. (Si. lill-284) This invention relates toa device for feeding the storage tanks of steam generators in toy locomotives with steam generating liquid.

More specifically, the present invention proposes the construction of 'an apparatus which comprises .a liquid storage container, pump means operatively mounted in said storage container and nozzle means adapted to conduct a steam producing liquid from said storage container into the funnel of a toy locomotive.

The need for a device of the above described character becomes apparent when one considers the difficulties encountered in rciilling the steam generator tanks of toy locomotives by hand. For instance, the steam generating liquid, such `as olive-oil or the like is stored in vials and then this liquid is poured by hand into the tunnel of the toy locomotive. Frequently, liquid spills over because too much liquid has been poured into the funnel of the toy locomotive, which is accompained by the soiling of hands and the track and engine of the toy locomotive.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide simple and quantitatively controlled means 'for yfeeding a stream generating liquid into the storage tanks of toy locomotives without soiling the hands or the toy.

Another object oi' my invention is to provide a device of the above character by means of which the toy locomotive may be reilueled without stopping.

A further object of my invention is to provide 'a device as `aforesaid which is manually operated.

Still a further object of my invent-ion is to provide a refueling device that can be remotely electrically controlled.

With the above and other objects in view the invention comprises certain new 'and useful constructions, combinations 'and specification of the draw-ings, which illustr-ate the practical embodiment of my invention, and in which:

PEG. 1 is a longitudinal section of one of the embodi ments of my invention;

FiG. 2 is an elevation of another embodiment ci my invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the device illustrated in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view along line F-F of FIG. 2;

FlG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line E-E of FIG. 2; and

FiG. 6 illustrates yet `mother embodiment of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings, the embodiment of FIG. 1 comprises a storage tank 2 iilled with a liquid lili that produces steam when heated. Integral with the upper portion of the tank 2I is a vent valve having a shoulder 8 defining a valve chamber da and an opening de. Inside this chamber tia is seated the valve ele-ment i which is forced upwards into the valve seat by the spring 17a. A ring l@ of rubberized material is seated in the valve chamber 8a opposite the valve element 4. The tank 2 is vented by manually pressing the valve element i downward against the action ofthe spring ia. The gas in tank 2 can then escape via the passageway b past the valve element 4 through the opening 8c. A cap l5 is `screwed onto neck 7 projecting from the upper portion of tank 2 adjacent to the vent valve. Neck 7 detines -a funnel like opening 7a through which tank 2 may be reiilled. A neck 9 lddi Fatented Mar. l0, 1964 ICC having an opening 9a projects from the upper portion of tank 2 adjacent to the vent valve opposite to neck 7. A manual pump cylinder 13 is screwed into the neck 9. A rubberized membrane l2 is secured to the lower end of cylinder li. A pump piston 1I is slidably mounted inside the bore of cylinder i3. A stop 5 integral with the tank 2 projects upwards in `axial alignment with pump piston lll. A passageway 2a leads from tank 2 to a safety valve 6 integral with the walls of tank 2. The walls of safety valve 6 define `a valve chamber '6a. A ball 6 in the valve seat of valve 6 is urged against the passageway Za by the lagency of spring 17h and seals thereby passageway 2a. A feed-pipe 1 having an outlet arm lb projects upwardly from the valve chamber 6a. At the end of outlet arm 1b integral therewith is a second safety valve 3 having la valve chamber 3a and a spout la. Inside the valve chamber 3a a spring i7 urges the valve head do against the opening of the outlet arm lb sealing thereby the feed-pipe 1.

The device in FIG. 1 is operated by manually pushing the pump piston lll in the direction ot arrow P, thereby urging the rubberized membrane l2 downwardly against the stop 5 and creating an increase in pressure in the tank 2. This increase in pressure forces a predetermined `amount of the liquid lo through the passageway 2a, safety valve 6, the feedapipe l and safety valve 3 into the funnel A of a toy locomotive.

The embodiment of my invention illustrated in FiG-S. 2-5 comprises a stand 29 which is placed over the track bed G. A shaft 27 having a crank arm 27a is rotatably supported by the legs of the stand 29. An eleotrcmagnet 20, 2li is rigidly secured to one of the legs of the stand 29. A core shaft Zila of the electromagnet is urged downwardly by a spring 2Gb at its lower end and is connected to the crank -arm 27a by the agency of a connecting rod ZS. A spring piston casing l is hingedly supported on the shaft 2'7. A cam element 19 in axial alignment with the pump casing 13 is rigidly secured to the shaft 27. The storage tank litla for the liquid lill is integral with the pump piston casing d8. A pump piston 23 is slidably disposed inside the pump piston casing i8 and is urged upwardly against the cam element i9 by the spring 24. The upward force of the spring 2d is substantially greater than the downward gravitational force exerted by the casing It via the cam i9 on the piston 23, so that the pump casing 1S and storage tank ida may be rotated by means of the electromagnet 2d, 2l without distorting spring Z4- and thereby moving piston 2S downwardly. The electromagnet Z0, 21 is remotely controlled by electrical control means (not shown) and rotates the piston casing i@ and storage tank 13a by means of the connecting rod 23 into one of two inoperative positions represented by the line Q-`R or one of two operative positions represented by the lines S and T. The swivelling angle between the two operative positions S and T is symmetrical to the vertical so that the locomotive may be refuled while approaching the stand 29 from either direction. A nozzle 25 having fan oriiice 2.5 is secured to the lower end of the pump piston casing lil. A stop element 22 is swivelably secured to the lower portion of the casing i3. The swinging mo tion of the stop element 22 about its supporting axis Z is parallel to the mot-ion of the toy locomotive B. The stop Z2 has a free angle of swing of about 15. In the event the t-oy locomotive B approaches the stand 29 from the direction of arrow M (see FIG. 3), the funnel A of the locomotive pushes aga-inst the stop Z2 and swings the latter about axis Z until the limit of the free angle of swing N has been reached. The piston casing lli and storage tank 18a 1are then swung about shaft 27 through one angle of about from position T to position S. While the piston cas-ing 18 swings through its low dead center position, the cam I9 pushes the piston 23 downward against the action of spring 24 and thereby yforces some steam producing liquid 10 from the storage tank 18a through the orice 25 of the nozzle Z6 into the funnel A of the toy locomotive B while the latter is in motion. After the piston casing 18 passes through the low dead center position, the piston 23 moves in a counterstroke upwards through the `action of spring 24.

In the event the locomotive B is not to be refueled while driving through the stand 29, the electromagnet 2G, 2i is remotely electrically activated. The core shaft 20a and connecting rod 28 move then upwardly against the action of spring 20h, thereby swinging the shaft 27 via the crank arm 27a to the inoperative position R. The funnel A of the toy locomotive B passes then through the stand 29 without touching the stop 22.

The embodiment of FIG. `6 comprises a hollow upright pedestal 39 having a base 3S supporting the track G. An electromagnet 35 forms part of the pedestal 39. A galilows support 40 is slidably disposed inside the pedestal 39 and has as an aX-ial extension the core shaft 36 of the electromagnet 35. The storage tank 30 has a screw 41 and a safety valve 42 on its upper cover. The screw 41 may be removed for refilling the tank 30. The safety valve 42 has the usual spring 43 and ball 42. Any decrease in atmospheric pressure inside the tank 3i? is cornpensated for via the valve 42. A combination piston 3l and nozzle 31a having a passageway 37 projects downward from the tank 30 and is resiliently secured to the tank 30 and sealed off by the agency of the rubber membrane ring 44. A spring 34 urges the combination piston and nozzle downwardly.

The device in FIG. 6 is operated by activating the electromagnet 35. The gallows support is then urged downwardly against the action of spring 32. Simultaneously therewith, the combination piston 31 and nozzle lzz, which is freely movable in a limited range of motion in the direction of arr-ow C, is urged against the funnel A of the toy locomotive B and thereby moves `in an upward pump stroke into the tank 30 against the action of spring 34. The steam producing liquid 10 is thereby forced through passageway 37 into the funnel A.

The pump stroke which forces the steam producing liquid from the storage tank into the funnel of the toy locomotive is executed, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, by the piston 11, operated -by the pressure of a finger; in the embodiment of FIGS. 2-5, by the kinetic energy of the toy locomotive B acting against the stop 22 and thereby swivell'ing the piston casing 18 about 90; `and in the embodiment of FIG. 6, by the downward force generated by the electromagnet 35.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such modilioations and variations are considered to be -within the purview and scope of the invention and appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A fueling device for toy locomotives, comprising a stand having two legs straddling the track of a toy locolmotive, a shaft rotatably supported by said two legs over said track, electromagnetic means operatively connected to said shaft for rotating the same, a tank rotatabiy supported by said shaft, a cam rigidly secured to said shaft, piston means slidably disposed in said tank and abutting against said cam, a nozzle having swingable stop means projecting downwardly from said tank, said stop means being adapted to be engaged by la toy locomotive moving underneath said tank and swinging the latter through an angle, whereby said cam urges said piston means through a power stroke and thereby causes a predetermined quantity of liquid out of said tank through said nozzle.

2. The fueling device as set forth in claim l, wherein said electromagnetic means are adapted to swing said tank via said cam and said piston means into an inoperative position wherein said stop means are out `of the path of said toy locomotive moving over said track.

3. A fueling device for toy locomotives, comprising a stand, a shaft rotatably supported in said stand and ex: tending over the track of a toy locomotive, a storage tank having outlet means rotatably supported by said shaft over said track, a cam rigidly secured to said shaft, pumping means operatively disposed in said tank and @abutting against said cam, biasing means operatively connected to said pumping means for restoring the same from operative to inoperative position, said storage tank being adapted to be engaged by a toy locomotive passing thereunder and swiveled about said shaft, said cam thereby pressing against said pumping means and forcing a predetermined amount of liquid through said outlet means into the passing toy locomotive.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,010,377 Sassen Aug. 6, 1935 2,456,958 Kretschmer etal Dec. 2l, 1948 2,665,825 Poitras et al. Jian. l2, 1954 2,702,655 Lopata Feb. 22, 1955 

1. A FUELING DEVICE FOR TOY LOCOMOTIVES, COMPRISING A STAND HAVING TWO LEGS STRADDLING THE TRACK OF A TOY LOCOMOTIVE, A SHAFT ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID TWO LEGS OVER SAID TRACK, ELECTROMAGNETIC MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SHAFT FOR ROTATING THE SAME, A TANK ROTATABLY SUPPORTED BY SAID SHAFT, A CAM RIGIDLY SECURED TO SAID SHAFT, PISTON MEANS SLIDABLY DISPOSED IN SAID TANK AND ABUTTING AGAINST SAID CAM, A NOZZLE HAVING SWINGABLE STOP MEANS PROJECTING DOWNWARDLY FROM SAID TANK, SAID STOP MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO BE ENGAGED BY A TOY LOCOMOTIVE MOVING UNDERNEATH SAID TANK AND SWINGING THE LATTER THROUGH AN ANGLE, WHEREBY SAID CAM URGES SAID PISTON MEANS THROUGH A POWER STROKE AND THEREBY CAUSES A PREDETERMINED QUANTITY OF LIQUID OUT OF SAID TANK THROUGH SAID NOZZLE. 